18 NEWS FROM HOME 19

FROM THE MEN’S LEAGUES proper citation of NJSA governing rules. its company team. Kearny became such a #us begun a downward spiral of the dis- soccer hub that in 1950 Sir Ma* Busby’s pute over e-mail and the inclusion of way Manchester United chose Kearny as a site Let’s too many people on the cc list that led to for an exhibition game against a team of a*ached members of Hump Street skipping locals. all legal citations and giving the NJSA board In the 1960s, Kearny had a population of Talk members an electronic “New Jersey hello,” over 21,000 Sco*ish immigrants. One of the a.k.a., “Go F*ck Yourself.” later families to move from Scotland was #e board members—mostly gentlemen that of a former teammate of mine, Gary About It of a certain age—did not take kindly to being Nimmo—or “Gazza.” He has a raspy voice the recipient of such profani% and promptly from years of cigare*es, booze and non-stop ruled that Hump Street be disqualified from trash talk. In recalling what made Kearny the State Cup and that certain of its players such a soccer hotbed, Gazza noted that he’d would be banned from organized soccer been coached by former Hibs player Jake W H A T I L E A R N E D W H E N for over three years. And each offending Bradley, who’d finish day job as an electri- I W E N T L O O K I N G player had to send a formal apology to the cian then coach the youth for Kearny Scots. F O R A N S W E R S A B O U T board and copy all of the other managers Later it would be Rob McCourt, current A N O T H E R T E A M ’ S in the league. head of Monmouth Universi% and Gerry SUSPENSION. I play for an Over-30 team called Kearny McKeown, founder of Players Development Scots. Most of our players are Brazilian or Academy and Nike iD2 scout, who would WHAT MAKES A MAN drive an hour and a half Peruvian or anything other than Sco*ish. continue the tradition of coaching subse- to Trenton on a weeknight for a meeting Our manager Anthony Portelli, half Italian quent generations of Kearny Scots players. that has no impact on his family or his job? and half Polish, but 100% Kearny with about In addition to this rich tradition of experi- Of course it relates to soccer—and the 10% of soccer still le- in his legs, was cop- enced volunteer coaches, Kearny had fierce recurring theme of those governing the ied on the correspondence. #e dilemma pick-up games—with each court having game not listening to the voice of fans and reminded us of when Kearny Scots was its own rules. Hoyt Street games were on players. In this case, our Willy Loman is the the defending state champs heading into an abandoned tennis court with a torn- manager of Hump Street FC, an over-30 the 2016 season and during the State Cup out net—pe,ed poles counted for a goal. men’s team based in Hoboken, who’s hoping NJSA forced us to take a forfeit because we At Washington School, the metal grates to overturn or at least lessen the decision by could not secure a home field. #e same over the windows and a couple feet off the the New Jersey Soccer Association board to administrator, Carlos Pais, abruptly made ground served as the goals, teaching the ban Hump Street for over three years from us take a forfeit and Sport Club, of all teams, players to hit laser on net. #e most com- the game of soccer. advanced to the next round. Sport Club won petitive games were at the Harrison Courts.

#e dispute between Hump Street and ?????????????????????????? BY PHOTO the State Cup that year and it stung that we You only brought your A team because if NJSA stemmed from a quarterfinal State were not able to defend our title due to some you lost there was a wait of about 10 teams. Cup match between Hump Street and Sport disconnected administrator. A wager might even ride on the games, los- Club Portuguese based in Ironbound neigh- In the mid-1870s, several Sco*ish tex- ing team owing the winners Clinton Iced borhood of Newark. Hump Street won 2-0. tile, shipping, flooring and manufactur- Teas and subs at Stash’s on Kearny Ave. #e game was a heated match between two ing companies built mills along the Passaic You learned by trying your moves on your teams of different ethnic backgrounds: River in Kearny, attracting a huge labor friends. Your skills progressed by adapting one largely Italian, the other obviously force from the U.K. #e Clark #read Mill to the different games and playing against Portuguese. As the teams walked off, a Co. le- an indelible mark by planting the older guys you looked up to and trying to Sport Club player is rumored to have told Kearny. ”Soccer seed for Kearny’s nickname, Soccertown, stay on courts for as long as you could or a Hump Street player that “Carlos would Town, USA.” In 1950 USA, by importing soccer talent to play on before it got dark. Sir Matt Busby’s take care of this”—referring to Carlos Pais, Manchester United One of the oldest and most historic social NJSA Vice President of Game Operations, chose Kearny as a clubs in New Jersey is the Kearny Scots who also happens to be Portuguese. site for an exhibi- Club on Pa*erson Avenue. As you enter, a tion game against a Several weeks later, Hump Street learned team of locals. door warns: “Members Only.” Once inside, from NJSA that Sport Club had filed a pro- more o-en than not, you’re greeted by five test over a penal% awarded to Hump Street old men, three wearing Celtic jerseys, one and a red card issued to the offending Sport from each of the past three decades, who Club player, a violation of the new “double “More often than not immediately look up from their Magner’s jeopardy” rule recently passed by FIFA. cider ale. On a good afternoon after the Moreover, NJSA relayed to Hump Street you’re greeted by fve Kearny Scots has won or after conclud- that a replay would likely have to be played. ing a horseshoe tournament out back or Hump Street’s manager is a lawyer by day, old men, three wearing around any of the holidays, drinks line the so decided to pore over the NJSA bylaws. Celtic jerseys, one bar with casino chip markers backing your He found that for Sport Club to file a protest, PHOTOGRAPHS pint representing a round of drinks bought they must pay a fee to NJSA. He asked for B Y from each of the past by members with names like Wee Man J O E evidence that Sport Club had indeed paid MARTINEZ (he is small) or Genius (he is not a genius). the fee. When NJSA failed to respond, he three decades.” An immaculately maintained shuffleboard sent a long and well-considered appeal with spans the length of the wall opposite of the 20 NEWS FROM HOME 21

bar, beneath shelves displaying the club’s a*orney continually communicating with FROM THE NWSL deal, and everyone knew it. A-er the game, rich history: framed photos, scarves, signed the state associations. Varsallona stated that Portland forward and Canadian soccer leg- posters of pro teams and U.S. national teams, this dialogue is something new and proac- end said this year’s Final some containing past members, trophies. tive by the Cordeiro administration. I had A Season was about establishing a benchmark. Learning about Hump Street’s dispute wanted to rail against the national and state “I think that it’s a huge day for women’s and our being forced to take a forfeit indi- soccer hierarchy and show that if NJSA is soccer,” said Sinclair. “#is is hope1lly what cated to me a 1ndamental rupture with unjustly sidelining my teammates in our In the 1ture of the game will look like in this NJSA and its members, where arbitrary last years of old-man soccer glory, imag- country.” decisions are affecting players who have ine the abuse and corruption that exists given so much of their lives to the game and at the USSF level? In life, like soccer, you Review THE 2018 SEASON did offer a glimpse of what come from established and storied soccer come into a challenge with 1ll-on studs up the 1ture of women’s soccer in the U.S. areas like Kearny and Hoboken. NJSA is a ready to take out everything in your way, will be. For good or ill, it’s going to look non-profit and was created in 1913, the same but rash challenge a-er rash challenge, you a lot like the rest of professional sports in year as USSF. Many board members have get older and just want to slide with your this country. For the most part, that’s good. run NJSA for the past 30 years. Many are in buddies toward the sidelines celebrating 2 0 1 8 B R O U G H T M O R E Women’s soccer is entertaining. Women’s their mid- to late-60s and have devoted an having scored a couple of nice goals along D R A M A , M O R E F A N S , soccer tells compelling stories. Women’s incredible amount of time towards soccer the way. A N D M O R E C A R I N G soccer is lucrative. Women’s soccer brings in New Jersey. But by the end of my interview, I felt the (EXCEPT...MAYBE... people together. #e economic and cultural I reached out to NJSA executive vice same feeling I had when the Portuguese IN NEW JERSEY). forces that work to deny the women’s game president Pat Varsallona to voice my con- guys at SCP used to give me a cup of Port legitimacy are losing their grip on their practice. An absentee general manager and deepened and strengthened. And through it cerns regarding Hump Street and Kearny wine before the start of the second half: “NO ONE CARES about women’s soccer.” gatekeeping powers. We know this because a culture of silence at the club exa,erated all, North Carolina steamrolled every team Scots. He graciously took time to answer warm, comfortable and no longer itching to Every single fan of women’s soccer has to fans and media are demanding be*er from problems that would be intolerable in any that thought they could slow the Courage my questions. Mainly, I wanted to get his do ba*le for my voiceless, balding brethren. hear this. Every time they talk about their the league. other professional sports organization. #at down. perspective on the percolating feeling that In a world of hot takes, viral tweets and love for the women’s game where other #e NWSL was beset by controversies the situation was allowed to develop in the Having beaten Chicago in that resched- soccer governance, from USSF down to the memes, we’re succumbing to the urge to people can hear or see it, someone responds in 2018—some %pical of any professional first place and has yet not been adequately uled semifinal, North Carolina went into the state associations, is taking its members for jump to conclusions and offer self-import- with that. Some man—and let’s be real here, sports organization, some that could only addressed since these issues came to light Final with not just the crowd against them, granted, and could he and NJSA really jus- ant half-baked opinions instead of ask- it’s almost always a man—will invariably happen in this league. Two NWSL teams remains a black mark on the league. but history. No team who won the Shield ti2 banning Hump Street players for three ing questions, and instead of listening to feel the need to insert themselves into the from 2017 did not survive to see 2018; Several late-summer league games in had won the Championship. Even a league years when most of the them have one foot answers. In person even. conversation with that snide takedown. FC Kansas Ci% was moved to Utah and Sea*le and Portland were forced to go ahead as young as the NWSL can have curses. in the retirement graveyard. His response Kearny became Soccertown because No one cares about women’s soccer. rebranded as the Royals, while the Boston more-or-less as scheduled, despite much of But curse or no, the Courage would not was simple: the board felt the language used You see this whenever the National Breakers were unceremoniously wound up. the Pacific Northwest being blanketed in be denied. Portland put up a noble fight, but by Hump Street players in the emails was Women’s Soccer League gets promoted S4 Blue FC was embroiled in contro- wildfire smoke. Each time players, clubs, their title defense melted before the blis- too offensive could not go unpunished. on social media, whenever their annual versy over the club’s treatment of play- and fans demanded answers and action, tering radiance of the challengers. North When NJSA asked Hump Street to send a Championship Final gets hyped, whenever IMAGES GETTY VIA SPORTSWIRE ICON ers and general operational malpractice. the league issued the same tepid response: Carolina cruised to a 3-0 win, capping off a contrite email, it was a request for respect to the superstars of the game say anything to It started with an off-hand remark by for- that they were monitoring the situation. truly historic year in the history of the sport men who could be the players’ grandfathers. the media, some rando on Twi*er with zero mer star striker after her new And as the regular season drew to a close in this country. Varsallona did say that the Board would followers and a default e, avatar will feel team, the Chicago Red Stars, beat S4 Blue and the playoff brackets were set, the league All this happened in front of a large, bois- probably revisit Hump Street’s punish- the inescapable need to interject with that handily that she drew no satisfaction from made another unforced error. #e semifinal terous, supportive crowd. Fans of the home ment—and in fact did just that since Hump nu,et of unsolicited wisdom. the victory and that “I wish things were clash between North Carolina and Chicago, team, to be certain, but also those invested Street is back in the over-30 league and No one cares about women’s soccer. be*er [at S4 Blue].” #at led to a series of set to be played in Cary, North Carolina, was in the women’s game. Fans who get behind the main players involved in the offending 21,114 fans poured in to Portland’s investigative reports uncovering, among thrown into peril as Hurricane Florence their players and their clubs. Fans who have email chain are back playing soccer. Providence Park in September to watch other things, that players were not pro- bore down on the Eastern Seaboard. #e bought into the project of American WoSo. In advocating for a more democratic their beloved #orns compete in the NWSL vided adequate training facilities or even a league waited until the last possible moment But hey, no one cares about women’s election process in determining the next Championship Final. That’s the highest 1nctioning shower, and were told to bring to make a decision on the game, all while soccer, right? president for NJSA, I asked why not allow a*endance figure for any professional wom- their own drinking water from home to North Carolina insisted that the game could Portland defender Meghan Klingenberg each team to a have a member vote to elect en’s championship match, in any league, in go on as scheduled. Ultimately, the match didn’t hold back when describing what the the president and get rid of the existing wanderers who loved the game built them- U.S. history. #at’s not a thing that happens was moved to Portland, providing a neutral support from fans means to her. “I started “electoral college” system of voting that selves a community. New Jersey soccer by accident. Even in Portland. Soccer Ci% location and easy travel logistics for who- tearing up a bit,” said Klingenberg. “Not nec- prioritized leagues over clubs. Varsallona may not be as ethnically homogeneous as USA. Even in Portland, this was a big thing. ever won. But the uncertain%, and the lack essarily because we lost—I mean that does stated that it would be an administrative Kearny’s early collection early, but it’s still While the #orns boast one of the larg- of firm answers from the league office, made suck, but you lose in life. It’s more about nightmare to allow each team or even each a community—or should be. Did Hump est supporter bases in the NWSL, a not-in- an already difficult situation worse than it having these people around and it’s almost player a vote in the election. I was losing Street’s manager really drive an hour and significant number of those in a*endance needed to be. like having your family behind you at the my skepticism of NJSA’s competence the a half because he was angry at a seemingly came on the merits of what looked to be game and when you let yourself down it’s longer I was having a civilized, polite con- callous act of authori%? Partly yes, but more a titanic match-up. #e defending league “Despite all the issues, DESPITE ALL THESE ISSUES, the 2018 NWSL one thing but when you feel like you’ve let versation with him. likely he probably drove to Trenton to be champions, aiming for their second title in a season was probably the best in the league’s your family down it’s something different. My final question was a hope1l extra- with his—our—people. – B Y M I C H A E L row and their third all-time, in a rematch of the 2018 NWSL season history. Maybe all of women’s soccer in So, it’s pre*y emotional, but having them time lob into the box: Did he feel the feder- WHEELER last year’s final against the North Carolina the U.S. #e games were 1n—some saw a behind us is one of the best things in the ation was on the right track with Cordeiro Courage. #e challengers had come off one was probably the best in flood of goals, others were tense strategic world and I know they’re going to turn up as president? He said that Cordeiro had of the most dominant seasons in the his- the league’s history.” ba*les, but few matches this season could next season for every game and make it hard sat down with each state association and tory of American club soccer—men’s and be considered boring. Sam Kerr missed to play here so I can’t thank them enough.” listened to their concerns and that as a women’s—with 17 wins, six draws, and the first two months of the season and still You can fake caring. But you can’t fake post-election follow-up, U.S. Soccer has an only one loss. #is was going to be a big managed to win the Golden Boot. Rivalries showing up. –BY JAMES BRIDGET GORDON